Summoning their best

By Richard Ross
May 22, 2013 —

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — It’s week two of the championship foray and the action is intensifying across the spectrum of high school sports. In boys golf, Eldred freshman David Powers won the OCIAA Golf Championship. Powers shot a five-over-par 76 at Grossingers on May 14 to become the first Eldred golfer to win the OCIAA title since Henry Bosch did it in 2003, and the first freshman champion since Doug Novogrodsky of John S. Burke Catholic in 2001. Powers finished just one stroke ahead of Cornwall freshman Ryan Rodriguez. Both went to states a year ago. Sullivan West’s Drew Billard finished fourth with a 10-over-par 81. The top 31 golfers advanced to the Section Nine tourney at Mansion Ridge on May 20. Rodriguez (32-44-76) held a one-stroke lead at sectionals after the first day. Billard 38-62-80 was eighth after the first day of Sectionals. Powers 40-44-94 was 16th. All three advanced to day two at Casperkill Golf Course in Poughkeepsie Monticello senior Angelo Niforatos (93) at the OCIAA championships, qualified for sectional play but missed the cut for the second day.

At the Donna Deppa Meet of Champions all county schools with track teams sent athletes to vie in the individually scored meet at Sullivan West except Eldred, which had a prior event scheduled. It was the swan song for Westie seniors pictured above right, who competed in their last home meet. Sullivan West’s Mitch Paciga won the high jump with a PR leap of 6-4. He went on to take second in the OCIAA League Championships with a mark of 6-3. Teammate Anthony Rydell won the discus at the Donna Deppa meet with a heave of 121-5. He bettered that throw by nearly eight feet with a fourth-place finish at the OCIAA Championships by throwing 129-05. For results visit www.sportsinsightsny.com[1].

At the OCIAA Track and Field Championships held at Warwick on May 17-18, a number of locals had outstanding performances. Sullivan West’s Reed Scott broke new ground with an outstanding run in the 3200 with a PR of 9:36.51, 16 seconds faster than his personal best. Fallsburg’s Candhace Forest (12.75) took second in the 100 while Tri-Valley’s Colleen Jones (101-01) won the discus. T-V’s Josh Winters (148-09) was second in the javelin. After winning the 100 and 200 at the Donna Deppa meet, Monticello’s Shane Jackson (23.02) took third in the 200 at the league championships.

In girls golf, Fallsburg’s Danielle Stratton, competing in her fourth sectional tourney, was in a position to qualify for states for the third time as she finished day one at Apple Greens Golf Course in eight place with a 45-50-95. Teammate Madison Levine 53-46-99 was 11th. Sullivan West’s Daphne Muzuruk (65-54-119) qualified for sectionals but did not make the cut for the second day. The top nine golfers will advance to the state tourney.